Fighting and Writing

More about the book

The memoirs of white soldiers from Rhodesia during the Zimbabwean liberation struggle reveal a complex dialogue on race and the nature of their involvement in the war. Luise White explores how these ambivalent conscripts grappled with the futility of defending white minority rule. Their narratives highlight relationships formed in childhood with black playmates, emphasizing a learned understanding of African society. Despite their claims of integration, the soldiers' accounts reflect a persistent association of African guerrillas with the wild, showcasing the tensions within their experiences and perspectives.